To create my banner, I went to our school’s website http://www.lexrich5.org/HECorley.cfm to download and save the school logo. I opened Photoshop to create a new working space using 470 X 60 pixels. I changed the banner background colors by adding 3 different layers. The layer was yellow, the second was green and gradient, and the third was radiant layer. Next I opened the saved logo on a blank Photoshop background. I unlocked the layer and clicked the magic wand tool to delete the white from the image’s background. I resized the image by changing the height to 50; therefore it would fit the area in the banner. Next I flipped the image by selecting image, image rotation, flip horizontally. I copied and pasted the image into the banner. I changed the appearance of the image by double clicking the layer to select “layer style” and I checked bevel and emboss and added a drop shadow. Then I added text, using the text tool, to create the name of my school. I added effects to the text by clicking the new layer of the school’s name. I blurred edges and added a slight green highlight. I added our slogan “Home of the Crocodiles” in another layer using a slightly similar yet different text. I added a glow effect to the words. I saved my image as a “jpeg”, file name kingga2.jpeg” and I did not have to reduce the quality because my image was 37.2KB.
During the process, two challenges I found include: manipulating the color of the layers and trying to get the white background out of the logo image. Changing the layers color to create a gradient was frustrating. Many times the lock image would appear on the layer I was trying to change. Also the colors would not appear at times or give me the wrong color. After becoming more familiar with the color tools, I discovered easier tools to use to get the background color the way I had envisioned. The second challenge I encountered was removing the white background from the logo. At first I was using the magnetic lasso tool, then I used the pen tool, and it still did not look like I wanted. Then I found the magic wand tool, which selected the outline to enable me to easily delete the white background.
I learned several new tools and strategies to help keep my next encounter with Photoshop simpler, shorter, and less frustrating. I learned that renaming my layers will help me identify which layer I was currently changing. I found through trial and error that it is important to always unlock the layers before attempting to change the layer. I discovered the eyedropper tool which made it easier to match colors through gradients in different layers. I found the magic wand tool which enabled me to make a faster, cleaner, and easier cut out of the background of the image logo.
To create my banner, I went to our school’s website http://www.lexrich5.org/HECorley.cfm to download and save the school logo. I opened Photoshop to create a new working space using 470 X 60 pixels. I changed the banner background colors by adding 3 different layers. The layer was yellow, the second was green and gradient, and the third was radiant layer. Next I opened the saved logo on a blank Photoshop background. I unlocked the layer and clicked the magic wand tool to delete the white from the image’s background. I resized the image by changing the height to 50; therefore it would fit the area in the banner. Next I flipped the image by selecting image, image rotation, flip horizontally. I copied and pasted the image into the banner. I changed the appearance of the image by double clicking the layer to select “layer style” and I checked bevel and emboss and added a drop shadow. Then I added text, using the text tool, to create the name of my school. I added effects to the text by clicking the new layer of the school’s name. I blurred edges and added a slight green highlight. I added our slogan “Home of the Crocodiles” in another layer using a slightly similar yet different text. I added a glow effect to the words. I saved my image as a “jpeg”, file name kingga2.jpeg” and I did not have to reduce the quality because my image was 37.2KB.
During the process, two challenges I found include: manipulating the color of the layers and trying to get the white background out of the logo image. Changing the layers color to create a gradient was frustrating. Many times the lock image would appear on the layer I was trying to change. Also the colors would not appear at times or give me the wrong color. After becoming more familiar with the color tools, I discovered easier tools to use to get the background color the way I had envisioned. The second challenge I encountered was removing the white background from the logo. At first I was using the magnetic lasso tool, then I used the pen tool, and it still did not look like I wanted. Then I found the magic wand tool, which selected the outline to enable me to easily delete the white background.
I learned several new tools and strategies to help keep my next encounter with Photoshop simpler, shorter, and less frustrating. I learned that renaming my layers will help me identify which layer I was currently changing. I found through trial and error that it is important to always unlock the layers before attempting to change the layer. I discovered the eyedropper tool which made it easier to match colors through gradients in different layers. I found the magic wand tool which enabled me to make a faster, cleaner, and easier cut out of the background of the image logo.
image source:
HEC School Logo